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Lakeway CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is holding a Concert for CASA on Saturday, July 29, from 6-9pm at Colley Hill Farm, 740 Sam Martin Road in Dandridge.

The Concert Event will feature music from GRITS from Dumplin Valley, delicious BBQ from Wholly Soul, homemade lemonade from Twinz Main Squeeze, and a Silent Auction benefitting Lakeway CASA of Jefferson County Volunteer Program.

The Silent Auction will feature admission tickets from local attractions, gift certificates from local businesses, and fantastic gift baskets full of various items. This is a family-friendly event, and games and activities for children will be available. Admission is free but donations to Lakeway CASA are appreciated.

Executive Director, Kelley Williams, says that CASA is the only organization that recruits and trains local citizen volunteers who advocate for abused and neglected children. CASA Volunteers work within the court system and the community to ensure these children have a voice in determining their outcomes.

Volunteers help children navigate through a tenuous child welfare system; foster homes are amazing; however, on average, a child will change foster homes about eight times. Each move brings a new home and school where they don’t know anyone. But the volunteer is the constant.

Lakeway CASA asks volunteers to stick with a case until a child is in a permanent home. Volunteers visit their child one-on-one at least once a month. The primary responsibility is to advocate for a child in juvenile court. But volunteers also fill in the gaps for families trying to navigate the court system and parenting itself. CASA advocacy ensures that these children end up in the most appropriate, safe, and loving home and have the best opportunities to heal and thrive.

Williams further explained that CASA Volunteers serve as watchdogs to an overwhelmed child welfare system and are committed to ensuring that abused children do not fall through the cracks.

The community is invited to this special night of raising funds and awareness of CASA Volunteers and all they do to serve the most vulnerable children in our community.